Weekend breaks in Glasgow

The largest city in Scotland, as a tourist destination Glasgow has long lived in the shadow of the nearby Scottish capital. However in recent years, and thanks to a large push in the development of tourism in the city, Glasgow has emerged as a fantastic location for a short break with a fascinating history and a rich, varied mix of arts and culture. From the cities unique architecture and huge choice of museums and galleries through to the renowned night life ranging from some of the UK’s leading nightclubs to a world class variety of theatres and festivals, Glasgow has become one of the best cities in the UK to enjoy a weekend break.

With a rich history dating back to ancient times, Glasgow has seen itself as, amongst other things, a financial powerhouse, an industrial leader and an innovator of architecture, design and art. As a result todays Glasgow is steeped at every turn with historical sights and attractions to rival any city in the UK, or Europe for that matter. The sheer amount of activities available is almost endless and it is impossible to list them all. Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis provides some stunning Medieval architecture. The Necropolis gives a fascinating insight in to Victorian culture and some of the finest sculptures the city has to offer. The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens tells the story of Glasgow’s social history and with its elegant Victorian decor, is a great place to relax and enjoy the temporary exhibitions and events that run there throughout the year.

Another one of the most popular places to visit is Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art which offers a though provoking selection of contemporary exhibitions and workshops. The Burrell Art Collection provides a huge array of works from all over the world from medieval tapestries to modern sculpture. The Glasgow Science Centre is one of Glasgows many recent developments in the city and provides a fantastic experience where you could easily lose a whole day. Its attractions include the revolving Glasgow tower and an IMAX theatre. One of the cities most famous residents was, of course Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There are a number of attractions focused on his work including the Willow Tea Rooms, the ‘House for an Art Lover’ on the south side and the Glasgow School of Art. Beyond that his work pervades the city, with a number of buildings in the city being designed by him or inspired by his work.

The attractions above really are just the tip of the iceberg, there are simply countless more options available to you during a short break in Glasgow so it is well worth planning in advance what you want to see the most as there is just too much to cram into a single weekend. Accommodation is the same story with a huge array of different hotels to pick from. The variety of hotels alone is almost worth visiting the city for with options ranging from grand Victorian luxury, to unique boutique experiences to modern hotels inspired by the art and design history of the city. Whatever you are looking for from your weekend break, the endless list of opportunities in the city means you can be confident that Glasgow will provide the perfect setting for your short break.